Triclosan is a widely used antibacterial agent that has become a ubiquitous contaminant in freshwater, estuary, and marine environments. Concerns about potential adverse effects of triclosan have been described in several recent risk assessments. Its effects on freshwater microbial communities have been well studied, but studies addressing effects on marine microbial communities are scarce. In the present study, the authors describe short- and long-term effects of triclosan on marine periphyton (microbial biofilm) communities. Short-term effects on photosynthesis were estimated after 60 min to 210 min of exposure. Long-term effects on photosynthesis, chlorophyll a fluorescence, pigment content, community tolerance, and bacterial carbon utilization were studied after exposing periphyton for 17 d in flow-through microcosms to 0.316 nM to 10,000 nM triclosan. Results from the short-term studies show that triclosan is toxic to periphyton photosynthesis. Half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values of 1080 nM and 3000 nM were estimated using (14)CO2-incorporation and pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorescence measurements, respectively. After long-term triclosan exposure in flow-through microcosms, photosynthesis estimated using PAM fluorometry was not inhibited by triclosan concentrations up to 1000 nM but instead increased with increasing triclosan concentration. Similarly, at exposure concentrations of 31.6 nM and higher, triclosan caused an increase in photosynthetic pigments. At 316 nM triclosan, the pigment amounts were increased by a factor of 1.4 to 1.9 compared with the control level. Pollution-induced community tolerance was observed for algae and cyanobacteria at 100 nM triclosan and higher. Despite the widespread use of triclosan as an antibacterial agent, the compound did not have any effects on bacterial carbon utilization after long-term exposure.
Triclosan (TCS) is a widely used antibacterial agent that has become a ubiquitous contaminant in freshwater, estuary and marine environments. Concerns for potential adverse effects of TCS have been described in several recent risk assessments. Effects on freshwater microbial communities have been quite well studied but studies addressing effects on marine microbial communities are scarce. Here we describe short- and long-term effects of TCS on marine periphyton (microbial biofilm) communities. Short-term effects on photosynthesis were estimated after 60 – 210 minutes exposure. Long-term effects on photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, pigment content, community tolerance and bacterial carbon utilization were studied after exposing periphyton for 17 days in flow-through microcosms to 0.316 - 10 000 nM TCS. Results from the short-term studies show that TCS is toxic to periphyton photosynthesis. EC50 values of 1080 and 3000 nM were estimated using 14CO2-incorporation and Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM), respectively. After long-term TCS exposure in flow-through microcosms photosynthesis estimated using PAM was, however, not inhibited by TCS concentrations up to 1000 nM, but instead increased with increasing TCS concentration. Similarly, the amount of photosynthetic pigments increased after an exposure of 31.6 nM TCS and higher; at 316 nM TCS the pigment amounts reached between 140 and 190% of the control level. Pollution-Induced Community Tolerance (PICT) was observed for algae and cyanobacteria at 100 nM TCS and higher. In spite of the widespread use of TCS as an antibacterial agent, the compound did not have any effects on bacterial carbon utilization after long-term exposure.
Triclosan (TCS) is a widely used antibacterial agent that has become a ubiquitous contaminant in freshwater, estuary and marine environments. Concerns for potential adverse effects of TCS have been described in several recent risk assessments. Effects on freshwater microbial communities have been quite well studied but studies addressing effects on marine microbial communities are scarce. Here we describe short- and long-term effects of TCS on marine periphyton (microbial biofilm) communities. Short-term effects on photosynthesis were estimated after 60 – 210 minutes exposure. Long-term effects on photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, pigment content, community tolerance and bacterial carbon utilization were studied after exposing periphyton for 17 days in flow-through microcosms to 0.316 - 10 000 nM TCS. Results from the short-term studies show that TCS is toxic to periphyton photosynthesis. EC50 values of 1080 and 3000 nM were estimated using 14CO2-incorporation and Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM), respectively. After long-term TCS exposure in flow-through microcosms photosynthesis estimated using PAM was, however, not inhibited by TCS concentrations up to 1000 nM, but instead increased with increasing TCS concentration. Similarly, the amount of photosynthetic pigments increased after an exposure of 31.6 nM TCS and higher; at 316 nM TCS the pigment amounts reached between 140 and 190% of the control level. Pollution-Induced Community Tolerance (PICT) was observed for algae and cyanobacteria at 100 nM TCS and higher. In spite of the widespread use of TCS as an antibacterial agent, the compound did not have any effects on bacterial carbon utilization after long-term exposure.
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